Yakima, WA Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Clearance height
- 8 feet over street/sidewalk
- Governing section
- YMC § 8.77.150
- Max penalty
- $250 per violation, per day
- City backstop authority
- YMC § 8.80.080
Summary
Yakima requires owners to prune any tree overhanging a street or right-of-way to keep an 8-foot clear space above the sidewalk or street, and to remove hazardous limbs that threaten public safety.
Every owner of any tree overhanging any street or right-of-way within the city shall prune the branches so that such branches shall not obstruct the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection and so that there shall be a clear space of eight feet above the surface of the street or sidewalk. Said owners shall remove all dead, diseased or dangerous trees, or broken or decayed limbs, which constitute a menace to the safety of the public. The city shall have the right to prune any tree or shrub on private property which overhangs public right-of-way or interferes with the public health and/or safety of the public in accordance with YMC § 8.80.080. (Ord. 2016-032 § 1 (part), 2016)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4980636; v1 updated 2026-08-03; through 08-03-2026).
Full Breakdown
Yakima Municipal Code § 8.77.150 requires every owner of a tree that overhangs a city street or right-of-way to prune its branches so they don't block streetlights or the view at intersections, and to maintain a clear space of eight feet above the street or sidewalk surface. Owners must also remove dead, diseased or dangerous trees, and any broken or decayed limbs, that endanger the public. If an owner doesn't comply, the city has the right to prune or remove the hazard itself under YMC § 8.80.080, the public works director's authority over hazardous right-of-way vegetation.
Violations & Fines
Violating this chapter is a civil infraction with a penalty up to $250 per violation under YMC § 8.77.210, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense; the city may also prune or remove the hazard itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who must prune overhanging street trees in Yakima?
What happens if I don't prune my tree?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yakima
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